1 “ I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?

2 F or what is the allotment of God from above, And the inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

3 I s it not destruction for the wicked, And disaster for the workers of iniquity?

4 D oes He not see my ways, And count all my steps?

5 “ If I have walked with falsehood, Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

6 L et me be weighed on honest scales, That God may know my integrity.

7 I f my step has turned from the way, Or my heart walked after my eyes, Or if any spot adheres to my hands,

8 T hen let me sow, and another eat; Yes, let my harvest be rooted out.

9 “ If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door,

10 T hen let my wife grind for another, And let others bow down over her.

11 F or that would be wickedness; Yes, it would be iniquity deserving of judgment.

12 F or that would be a fire that consumes to destruction, And would root out all my increase.

13 “ If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me,

14 W hat then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him?

15 D id not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

16 “ If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

17 O r eaten my morsel by myself, So that the fatherless could not eat of it

18 ( But from my youth I reared him as a father, And from my mother’s womb I guided the widow );

19 I f I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering;

20 I f his heart has not blessed me, And if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

21 I f I have raised my hand against the fatherless, When I saw I had help in the gate;

22 T hen let my arm fall from my shoulder, Let my arm be torn from the socket.

23 F or destruction from God is a terror to me, And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.

24 “ If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ‘ You are my confidence’;

25 I f I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much;

26 I f I have observed the sun when it shines, Or the moon moving in brightness,

27 S o that my heart has been secretly enticed, And my mouth has kissed my hand;

28 T his also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, For I would have denied God who is above.

29 “ If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, Or lifted myself up when evil found him

30 ( Indeed I have not allowed my mouth to sin By asking for a curse on his soul);

31 I f the men of my tent have not said, ‘Who is there that has not been satisfied with his meat?’

32 ( But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler );

33 I f I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

34 B ecause I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—

35 O h, that I had one to hear me! Here is my mark. Oh, that the Almighty would answer me, That my Prosecutor had written a book!

36 S urely I would carry it on my shoulder, And bind it on me like a crown;

37 I would declare to Him the number of my steps; Like a prince I would approach Him.

38 “ If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;

39 I f I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives;

40 T hen let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.” The words of Job are ended.